TELUS has officially opened its new $65 million Intelligent Internet Data Centre in Rimouski, announcing that it will invest an additional $13 million in added IT infrastructure to bring world-class cloud-based solutions to Quebec and Canadian businesses. More than 80 per cent more energy-efficient than traditional data centres, the new facility ranks among the top-performing centres in North America and provides TELUS clients with maximum reliability and security. TELUS wants to contribute to Canada’s and Quebec’s competitiveness by offering world-class managed cloud-based solutions that will enable businesses to focus on their core activities, while providing business agility, helping to align IT with business strategy, and providing significant cost savings.

TELUS has been named the top hosting provider in Canada (NBI/Michael Sone Associates, Canadian Hosting and IAAS Cloud Computing Market Report, 2012 Edition) and its cloud-based solutions are the result of 20 years of experience in IT services.

“TELUS and our 5,500 Quebec-based team members are proud to celebrate our 85 years of history in the province with the opening of our new flagship facility. This is another significant investment for TELUS in Quebec, building on the $12.3 billion since 2000 that has enabled our presence to be felt in every corner of the province,” said François Gratton, President of TELUS Quebec and Atlantic Canada.”At TELUS, our clients are our top priority and our team of professionals is dedicated to helping businesses develop their full potential by offering them all the tools they need to stand out and succeed. With our new Internet Data Centre, companies can now harness the power of managed hosting and cloud computing solutions that are not only reliable, secure and flexible, but also hosted, managed and delivered in Canada.”

For the construction of its new building, TELUS teamed up with Skanska, one of the world’s leading data-centre construction companies, as well as with Callisson, Cosentini and Inertech. This project created more than 200 jobs in the Lower St. Lawrence area by calling on the expertise of some 15 local companies.

The new TELUS Tier III design-certified centre is the first TELUS Internet data centre built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards. Its 1.15 Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating puts TELUS at the forefront of the industry. In addition, the new facility was constructed with a unique modular design, allowing TELUS to rapidly increase the space and power capacity for technical equipment and to tailor its service offerings based on the latest technology.

Below are some key features of the TELUS Intelligent Internet Data Centre:

The TELUS Intelligent Internet data centre is connected to the company’s national IP network and is interconnected with major data centres across the country, representing the most advanced and locally diversified IT infrastructure in Canada.

TELUS chose to build its data centre in Rimouski for its appropriate weather climate allowing more efficient cooling. This enables natural cooling nearly every day of the year. In fact, TELUS anticipates that the Rimouski Centre will require only 40 hours per year of cooling via mechanical systems.

The Intelligent Internet Data Centre incorporates innovative, non-traditional solutions, such as a closed-loop cooling system that provides unparalleled operating efficiency. The first of its kind in the world, this system is 180 times more efficient than that of a traditional cooling plant.

The Rimouski location chosen by TELUS is also highly secure and an excellent option for customers seeking a core site or disaster recovery site, as it is more than 250 kilometres from major urban centres.

The data centre relies on cutting edge flywheel technology for backup in case of a power failure. Should a power disruption occur at the centre, the flywheels continue to turn due to the force of inertia. This drives the alternators to generate power until the high efficiency generators start during any power disruption, thus minimizing the use of batteries.

By harnessing the full power of virtualization and the Cloud, TELUS is maximizing the use of its IT infrastructure and thereby reducing its carbon footprint.

Investments related to the Intelligent Internet Data Centre are in line with TELUS’ consolidated capital spending targets for 2012.